Eclipse traffic is already awful

If you didn’t believe the warnings about traffic nightmares leading up to the total solar eclipse that will pass over Oregon on Monday, you’ll want to see this.

Oregon State Police tweeted a photo late Wednesday night of a 30-mile-long backup near Prineville, Oregon. Another tweet from the Ochoco National Forest showed people standing on the shoulder of a highway because traffic wasn’t going anywhere.

Earlier in the day state police tweeted about heavy traffic in La Pine, Oregon.

The Bend Bulletin reports on businesses stocking up on alcoholic beverages before the big day and calls for water conservation as 200,000 visitors are expected to pour into Central Oregon.

Some gas stations in Bend ran out of gas and diesel on Wednesday while others had long lines, according to KTVZ.

Washington transportation officials have been warning drivers for weeks not to wait until Monday morning to drive down to Oregon.

The AP reports expected choke points on the roads include the Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 bridges that connect Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon; U.S. 97 into Klickitat County; the Lewis and Clark Bridge between Longview, Washington, and Rainier, Oregon; U.S. 101 from Ilwaco, Washington to Astoria, Oregon.

Thinking of staying home? The view in Olympia will be close but no corona.

Abby Spegman: 360-704-6869, @AbbySpegman

Story from The News Tribune/ The Olympian

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